Yes, well what a sticky situation. While it looks threatening to internet radio on the surface, it is only threatening to little internet radio stations that want to play Metallica and Madonna.
All of the little and non-commercial oriented record labels and artists who depend on internet radio and other internet broadcast, (including, dare I say it, file sharing) for promotion will find some way around, through a waiver or some other licensing agreement to relieve the burden for the smaller broadcaster to continue to play what is known as "independent" music.

I think we all knew this day would come. Since I started using the net for entertainment I have noticed tons of metal bands that have music on the net but are not signed. And while I love to hear the songs by the big signed acts, I think it would be very cool to have internet radio stations focus a playlist on unknowns. You all knw there are good ones out there. Agree to push the cd's for these unsigned bands. If the band gets signed to a lable they get dropped from the playlist.

There are lots of sites for amature artists. They will not let you promote your work if you've been published. I think internet radio stations who help the better unknown bands get known is just what the net needs. It would beat having to hit tons of individual sites looking for a good unknown.

Does any of the above make sence? It's worked for the art world. For me anyway. Be nice to have a station with a playlist where being signed to a lable isn't a must for considered airtime.

If a combo of signed and unsigned artists were used it would . . .
1. reduce the rate that is payed to BMI, ASCAP and the likes because most unsigned aren't members of these organizations yet
2. allow the listener to have some familiarity with the content and the known artists
3. promote unknown artists (if they're good)and skyrocket them to superstardom